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April 9, 1929. H. R. HUMPHREY ELECTRIC HEATER Filed March 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet nvwszvrox Hubert Efiumfizy BY 46% Y A rromva rs April 9, 1929.

H. R. HUMPHREY 1,707,982

ELECTRIC HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1927 IN VEN TOR Hubert Eflumphrey A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNIT-en s rAT-Esg HUBERT R. HUMBHBEY, .OF .KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, T9 GENERAL GAS LIGHT QM A lmteweeaeefil a- ELECTRIC m ai in I Application filed liarch-26, iazr-seriai mj.1783564:

: The main objects of thisinv ention are:

' First,' to provide an improved electricheat er in which the functional' parts are-simpleand economical-in structure andmay be readily embodied casings! I readily adapts itselfto production in 'varying sizes; certain jun-it's thereof being adapted for use in any-size heater;j1."-'

Third, to provide an electrichea't'e'ar whiehis simple and'econom'ical in its parts and easily installed as an assembled unit. Y

Objects relatingt-o details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will appear from the detailed description to follow J 1 The invention is defined and pointed out in A structure which is a preferred"embodiment' of m'y'invention' is illustrated in the accor'npany'ing-dra'wing forming a part of this application in which:

"Fig." 1" is affront'elevation of an electric Y heater embodyingthe features of my mven tion,'t vo0nly of the heating unitsbeing illustrated, the others being indicated convent on ally-'byfdotu'ad lines; the structure illustrated being a seven unit heater.

' Fig. 2 is a detail sectionmainly in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of F iv. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the heating unit supporting base with the electrical unit supports mounted thereon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view partially in longitudinal section.

6 is a fragmentary transverse section on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the heating units,

Fig.8 is a cross section through one of the heating units.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections for the heating units.

In the drawing'similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide an open front in various types of ornamental casing designated generally-by the humeral- 1.:

H ')wever,' as'the 'de't'ai-ls-of-thi's casing-form no part of my present invention, I have 'not detailed-the same herin.- i

'- This easing isproyided' projectingflange 4m the "fr0ntthere'of-.f 'Thisf ase 'plate' constitutesfasupport for the fireback fifandthe iieaeingunitswhich consist 'ofthe. elongated bodies"or"holders 6 of "earthy material on whiclifthe resistance {elements are mounted-, these htplder's' fi *havi'ng'fllug-lik p roj'ectio n98 arranged in {a 'zig-zagl alternat in'grelatio'n'. j The resistance element as illils trated;'isformed'qf a'co'il "of wirebeing loopefd back and fortli-over these l-ugsz' 1 ';wich=a base p1ate2- 1 l'ngjopeni'ngs 3 thereinand'a'downwardly- Second, to {provide arr-electric heater whicht i h th horizontal flange l2 at its 'iipper enmfthis flange having openings"13thereinaligned with the openings3'inthe base p'latel I provide a plurality of independent socket members '14 preferably forme'd ofinsulating material, these socket members being -'shlouldered at 15 to'engage thefun derside'of the flange to pass through the openings in the flange and are secured to the underside thereof by the screws 16, laterally projecting ears be-v ing provided to'receive the screws.

The socket members have vertical .shouldered bores 17 therein in which the tubular contacts 18 are arr'ang'edto rest jupon the shoulders. Binding posts 19 extend into the lower ends of these bores t-o engage'the contacts, retaining them 'in position'and forming an electrical connection therewith. The socket members are preferably shouldered at 20. i i

The electrical con'nections't'o the contacts are formed through the contact headers 21, 22 and 23, the contact headers 21 being provided with lug-like laterals 23 which underlie the shoulders and are engaged by'the screws 19.- I provide two o f the contact headers 21 and 22 in the structure illustrated, so that a part or all of the heating units may. beuscd. f 1 A The contact header 23 is arranged against the lower ends of the socket members,

The control switch, designated generally by the numeral 24, has two leads 2'5 and 26 connected to the contact headers 21Y.a .1cl 22. respectively, the lead 27 being common to all of the contact members. -'.Lhe stem, 28-of the switch is carried forwardly through the front plate- 2-9of the casing: and; provided with a finger-piece 3Qprox-ided with suitable in di:- catort31. I

The stem 28 of the switch is made up of sections connected by .auniversal joint in the form-of. a. sleeve-.32: of insulating nmterial, the returnsection 33- of the stella -projectinginto this sleeve and. being connected thereto bypin 3t, the front section; 35; projecting into the sleeve and connected.- thereto by the pin 36 arranged at right anglesto the pin 34.

The sleeveisa, loose fit so that angular move: mentof the sections oi the sleeve are permitted, thuspa'ovidi-ng a satisfactory universal joint, and also, the sleeve being formed of insulating material such as fibre, effectively insulates the button 30-..

To protect the person installing or hanthe heater, I provide an angled guard 37'\vhich is secnredon the rear side of the supporting-plate to project upwardly at the rear of: the socket members embracing their electrical connections.

It will he noted that the base plate isproridcd with an upwardly projecting flange 3.8 i

at the front and with spaced positioning lugs 39 whereby f the heat-ting. units are accurately positioned relative to the socket or receptacle members. 7

At their upper ends, the resistance element holders 6 are. provided with transverse recesses 40 which are engaged by the retain ng rod all, this rctainin: rod having upwardly projecting ends 42 arranged through holes in the overhanging flange $21 of the backwall, so that the retaining rod may be lifted up to release the heating units, the same serving, however, to effectively align and support the heating unitsiuion the base plate. Y 4 By thus arranging the parts, the resistance element holders (KY being, formed of insulating material. the contacts. or terminals 5) may be directly n iounted thereon, as illustrated. no supporting bases being required for the members (3, and their being made of insulating material, they may rest directly upon the base plate, and being supported at the top, there is no undue strain on the contacts 9 or the holders 6 to which they are directly secured. I

The receptacle members may be readily connected inany desired grouping and readily adapted to any number of heating units,

that is, the same parts may be embodied in structures, ditl'ering only in the matter of size arm the number of heating units.

,Further -the socket members being formed of porcelain, themselves constitute effective insulators, and forming them as individual units, it isnot necessary to allow'for shrinkage or variation which ordinarily occurs in material. .of this character, and the receptacles may be easily applied with the means on the baseplate for positioning the heating units.

A further advantage that theelectrical receptacles are mounted on the support 11 and also the switch as a unit, the same unit being adapted for structures of varyingornamentatioa, thatis, the casings may ;be varied "as may be desired for similar sizes of heaters,

the'clectrical uni-ts and base plates being standard. Ofi course,.it is necessaryt-o vary.

the lexmth of the base plates and the sup.-

ports where the nuniberoiheati-ng unitsa-re increased ondiminished. Y Y

T he structure is very economical to pror duce and has wide. adaptation,

I have illustrated and described my improvements a practical embodiment without: attempting to show various adaptations. which I contemplate as I believe this dis-- closure will enable those skilled in theart to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

.Havin-g thus described .myinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: Y- J 1. an electric heater, the combination of a. socketmember supporting-plate having a rearwardly pa ojeetiingflange at, its upper edge provided. avith-oymnin-gs, a plurality of; socket members of insulating material shouldered to engage said OPCl llnfS in said supporting plateflange and secured to the undersic e thereof, said socket members having stopped lower ends and shouldered vertical bores, bar-like.- contact header mei-nbers dismm'd ou the sides of said socket members and each provided with projecting ears eu-, gia sing the shoulders of certa n of said socket llh mlwrs, a lair-like contact header member dis msed-ou the lower ends of said socket members, tubular contacts arranged in said Socket member bores upon their said shoulders, screws arranged through said header members engaging said contacts \rlu-reby the header n'ieiubers are electrically connected thereto, and a s=.--:itch mounted on said supporting plate and opcrativclj' connected to saidcirc-uit members 2. In an electric heater, the combination of a socket member supmrting plate having a rca rvardly projecting flange at its upper edge modded with (Jennings, a plurality of socket members of insulating material shouldered to 0: age said openings in supporting plate flange and secured to the underside thereof, said socket members having stepped lower ends and shouldered vertical bores, a contact header 'member provided with laterals engaging the shoulders otsaid socket members,

a"-contaet "head'enr'nemb'er disposed on the .nr d n-,- vi contacts, and'heatlng lowe'nnds ofsaid socket members, tubular contacts arranged in said socket" member bores upon their said shoulders, screws ar ranged 'throug'h' 'said header members engaging 'said' contacts "\vl1'ereby the header members'are electrically connected thereto, ,and a switch mounted= ,on-said'supporting plate and operatively conn ctea to said circuibmein 3i In an electrie heater, the combination-of a socket =membersup orrin 'platefa plurality of st 'kecmemb rs engagingsaid openings in saids'iippditing' plate'flangeand securedto the underside *tii'eieof "said socket} men'ibers being provided. with estimate-'- and' having and-- 'ov ided laterals ngaging the shoulders of certain of; the socket n'em bers,' a ontac't header member disposed on r'en ontact header members heater, the combination of :ith' base. plate having a socket friiem'be r support- 1i "n" .1ie"ue 1 e 1 Said itties "bp 'n 1n. said openings in said socket; meiii r connected" ers having resistance elements mounted t ereon m teb fmounl 9 a base plate and 'p rovi'dedfwitli, contacts, ,eoacting with said socket; iemb'er cont-acts when the heating jun-its a'ie liiifposition on said, base l')1ate ::..'=v I H Iv i "'5," Inan electric jheater, the combination of a'casing'providedwith a'base plate having openingstherein, a socket member supporting plate-mounted onthe underside of said base 'pl ate fand having openings therein aligned with the openings in said base plate, a plurality of socket members of insulating material mounted in said openings in said supporting plate and provided with pairs of cones of said. 'soek'etfmembers' M, therein i d stance aa di sei t members of insulating W t the d f j u ted on d.- I, I "=their Saidf units comprising holdunits comprising resistance elements of insulating material removably mounted on said base plate and having downwardly projecting contacts engageable with said socket member contacts through said base plate, and resistance elements carried by said holders and connected to their said contacts.

7. In an electric heater, the combination of a casing provided with a base plate, a socket member support mounted below said base plate, a plurality of independent socket members mounted on said support and provided with contacts, heating units comprising resistance element holders, and resistance cle ments mounted thereon provided with contacts engaging said socket member contacts when saidheating units are mounted on said base plate.

- 8. In a heater, the combination of a casing provided with a base plate having openings therein, socket members mounted below said openings in said base plate and each having pairs of contacts, electric connections for the contacts of the several socket members a heating unit comprising resistance clement holders of insulating material having downwardly projecting contacts removably engaging the socket member contacts when the heating elements are arranged on said base plate above the said openings therein, and resistance elements carried'by said resistan e cicinent holders and connected to their sazd cent-a c ts.

a 9." In a heater, the combination of a casing provided with a base plate having openings therein, a plurality of individual socket members mounted below said openings in said base plate, a heating unit comprising resistance element holders of insulating material having downwardly projecting contacts removably engaging the socket member contacts when-the heating elements are arranged on said base plate above the said openings therein, and resistance elements carried by said resistance element holders and connected to their said contacts.

10. In an electric heater, the combination of a casing provided with a base plate, a socket member support mounted below said base plate, a socket member mounted on said support and provided with contacts, electrical connections for said socket contacts, a switch for said connect-ions mounted on said supporting member, heating units compris iug resistance element holders, and resistance elements mounted thereon provided with contacts engaging said socket member contacts when said heating units are mounted on said base plate.

11. In an electric heater, the combination of a casing provided with a base plate a socket member support mounted below said base plate, a socket member mounted on said support and provided with contacts, heating units comprising resistance elements holders,

Iii)

port on which said receptacles are independently mounted, a switch mounted on said support and having electrical connectionsto said receptacles, said support, receptacles and switch constituting an assembled un t removably mounted on said base plate to support the rcceptaclesin opposed rel a tion to, said opemngs therein, and heating-un ts comprising resistance elements and holders there for of insulating material having receptacle .i engaging contacts projecting from theirglower ends to' engage said receptacles when the: heating units are mounted-on said base plate:

and positioned bysaid -positioning members thereof.

openings therein and provided ivith heating unit positioning members, plnralitypf ,eleeQ tric receptacles, a support onavhichsaid receptacles are mounted, mounted on saidbase plate to support the r'eceptaclesin opposed. relation to said openings thereirnandheatin units comprising resistance elements and holders therefor having receptacle; engaging contacts projecting. fro their glowenvends to engage said receptaclesivhentheheating units are mountedon base pla-teand positioned by said positioning membersthereof;

14. In an electric heater, the combination of a. casing provided \vitlra base plate, a plurality of electric receptacles, a support on which said receptacles, are independently mounted, a switch mounted onsaid support audhaving electrical connections to said re ceptacles, said support, receptacles and switch constituting an assembled unitremovablv mounted on said base plate to support the receptacles below said base plate, and heating units comprising resistance elements and holders therefor having receptacle engaging contacts projecting from their lower ends to engage said receptacles when the heating units are mounted on said base plate. iii. in an electric heater, the combination of a casing provided with abuse plate having openings therein and prov1dcd with heating unit positioning members, electric receptacles mounted below said base plate, heating units comprising resistance elements and holders therefor of insulating material having trans verse recesses in their upper ends and recepan electric heatergthe combination o casing provrdedzwithabase plate having,

tacle engaging contacts projecting from their loaverendsto engage said receptacles when the,

heating nn ts'are mounted; on said base plate and positioned by said positioning members thereot, and a retaining rod coacting with i a e k tni eber sew p ate tin a Lcarwardly,.pro ectingflange at its upper edge provided with openings, a plurality of soeketnrernberso f, insulating material shoal; deredtoengage sa d openings in said sup-. porting plate'flange and securedto the under-= side thereof, said socket rnembers having stepped loyqenends and, shouldered vertical bores, bar-like contact header members dis- Iie'sss 'en e ides of s i e ks m m and ch pr v-inane:mening s e ga ng theisheulders of certain oi sa d socket Ine nb t t likeii na i a -'m e i 1 'e lower of said socket memn ed oni- 4 tubular contaets'arijanged in said socket me'm it a es in aleir k d e i W =8 F3 ttl iglls d hea r nr r s were a ei e s-talwr' y the head 'a e'.' .ctriei yc nne flier-e e- 18. In an electric heater, the combination of a socket mem er supporting plate having a arwardly projecting flange at its upper c d'mprovided with openings, a plurality of soc ct members of insulating material shouldered to engage said openings in said supporting plate fiangeand secured to the underside thei'eof, said lsoclget member-shav ng stepped lower ends and shouldered vertical bores, a contact header member provided with laterals engaging the shoulders of said socket members, a contact header member disposed on the lower ends of said socket. members,

tubular contacts arranged in said socket mem ber bores upon their said shoulders, screws arranged through said header members ongaging said contacts whereby the header members are electrically connected thereto.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i

HUMPHREY. 

